Princess Charlène Revives The Crossing Water Bike Race
By Laurent Duval, MonacoViews Editorial
The Princess Charlène of Monaco Foundation is bringing back its 225-kilometre Mediterranean water bike challenge on 19-20 June 2026, starting in Viareggio and finishing in Monaco.
The Crossing returns to the Monaco calendar on 19-20 June 2026, with teams of elite athletes pedalling 225 kilometres across the Mediterranean from Viareggio, on the Tuscan coast, to the Principality. The arrival into Monaco from the open sea will mark the finish of one of the more demanding endurance events on the regional sporting calendar.
The race is organised by the Princess Charlène of Monaco Foundation, which has used long-distance maritime events to raise awareness of water safety and drowning prevention. Previous editions of The Crossing drew strong fields willing to take on multi-day open-sea conditions, and the 2026 edition continues that tradition with a redesigned course.
For Monaco residents, the finish will be a visible moment in the Principality's early summer calendar, with competitors arriving by sea after more than two days of racing across open Mediterranean waters.